Episode 16
Looking Outside strategy: Mark Pollard, CEO Sweathead
In episode 16 we get grounded in how a strategist thinks, and their process in creating impactful strategy, with Mark Pollard, CEO Sweathead.
A guide to many creative thinkers and long-time strategists, Mark discusses the role of chaos within orderly processes, the purpose of finding personal meaning in your thinking, and the need to balance intellectualism with practicality.
Having written a book about it, ‘Strategy is your Words’, Mark discusses the purpose of the written expression and the criticality of choosing words carefully when considering their impact within business. In other words, helping people easily get your idea through precise, emotive and concise arguments that persuade without an over-reliance on data and superfluous language.
Jo and Mark also venture into slightly darker places; the struggle of creative and existential thinkers in a world lacking empathy and over-reliant on formality. Specifically, how Mark’s intention to express the darker parts of his life has helped others connect with and share theirs. And how this has led to new ways of forming impactful strategies.
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To look outside, Mark goes to stand up comedy gigs, and takes long walks around Central Park. The walks are a part of the process of his work, where ideas are generated through connection to physical movement, external stimulus and the thoughts sparked by the podcasts he listens to. Stand up comedy, meanwhile, helps him connect to the darkness. Comedy being one of the rare art forms today (for now, at least) where ideas can be contrary, brutally human and provocative.
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On the show we mentioned:
- Victor Frankl - Man’s Search for Meaning
- Psychological analysis of Carl Gustav Jung
- Psychology Today
- Edward De Bono writings on lateral thinking
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Mark Pollard runs Sweathead, a strategy training company with a community of 18,000 strategists and a podcast with over 1.2 million listens.
In recent years, he's consulted and trained companies like Wall Street Journal, Twitter, Complex Media, EA Games, The Economist as well as agencies around the world.
In 2020, he published his Kickstarter-funded book "Strategy Is Your Words". It's a 400-page dive into the minds of strategists and builds around a framework he uses called The Four Points.
You can find his Australian accent in New York and strategy articles on his website.
You can find him at @markpollard, in the podcast and Facebook group Sweathead, and you can read some of his words here: How To Explain an Idea and How To Do Account Planning.
Find more about Mark at www.markpollard.net & follow him on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.
Learn about Sweathead. Listen to the podcast.
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Looking Outside is a podcast dedicated to exploring fresh perspectives of familiar business topics. The show is hosted by its creator, Joanna Lepore, innovator and futurist at Mars Wrigley. Find out more about Jo & Looking Outside at www.looking-outside.com.
Connect with Jo and join the Looking Outside community on LinkedIn.
Check out Jo’s foresight podcast Future Imagined (produced for Mars Wrigley).
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Looking Outside is created by Joanna Lepore. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2022.
OBOY and Nu Alkemi$t music features in Episode 16.
